Newest hawks on Hawk Hill

Nearly 13,000 viewers have tuned in to check out the nesting hawk couple at St. Joseph's University via its "Hawkcam," and this week, there was a bonus: Chicks.

At least two little fuzzy heads have been spotted in the nest atop a towering pine on the lawn of McShain Hall, a freshman residence next to the pedestrian bridge that arches over City Avenue into Philadelphia.

"The first chick hatched earlier this week (probably Monday) and we think the second hatched yesterday," said Michael McCann, biology professor and associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. "With luck, there might be a third egg in the nest."

The campus community has been excited since two red-tailed hawks first were spotted nesting in late March. The university set up the Hawkcam on the fifth floor of McShain and held a naming contest, subsequently dubbing the duo "Crimson" and "Grey" after the school's colors.

Red-tailed hawks frequently fly over St. Joe's campus, hence its mascot and nickname: Hawk Hill. But it's rare for them to nest on campus. Most hawks nest in the wild.

The green space on campus, however, is the right habitat for hawk food. The birds have shown a particular penchant for squirrels.

"We got some good views of the two little ones today as mom (now named "Crimson") was feeding them a squirrel dinner," McCann said Thursday.

He noted that the hawks have scarfed up at least a half dozen squirrels in the last week.

Chris Dixon, archival research librarian at St. Joe's and the staffer who first spotted the hawk nest, has taken pictures of the chicks, posted at http://www.sju.edu/int/resources/sustainability/Hawk%20Photos.html. To see the Hawkcam, go to http://www.sju.edu/int/resources/sustainability/hawkcam.html

The birds will have a role in commencement on Saturday as the university says goodbye to its newest class of graduates. The Rev. C. Kevin Gillespie, St. Joe's president, will refer to the chicks in his commencement speech. He plans to link them to alumni from the class of '64 who have returned to campus for their 50th reunion.

"Thank you for returning to Hawk Hill and for considering Saint Joseph's your home, as so many others have, including a pair of actual Hawks...who I'm told have successfully hatched some young Hawks. Just as classes leave and return, the circle of life at SJU continues."